Iain Darbyshire
@iaindarbyshire1.bsky.social
Research botanist at RBG Kew: 🌿African Acanthaceae, Important Plant Areas 🌺| Keen birder, all-round naturalist | 🦁 Aston Villa 🙌🏼 | Views are my own
A candidate for my #FavouritePlant in the UK this year would be Pasque Flower, seen at two sites in the Chilterns and in the North Downs (the former a part of a reintroduction programme, the latter I suspect planted) - the fruits are almost as impressive as the flowers! #WildflowerHour
September 14, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A candidate for my #FavouritePlant in the UK this year would be Pasque Flower, seen at two sites in the Chilterns and in the North Downs (the former a part of a reintroduction programme, the latter I suspect planted) - the fruits are almost as impressive as the flowers! #WildflowerHour
A bit of a cheat for my #FavouritePlant for #WildflowerHour but I’ve always wanted to see Wood Cow Wheat (Melampyrum nemorosum, or M. polonicum if treated as separate) and was lucky enough to finally see it growing in 🇪🇪 this summer, so beautiful. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
A bit of a cheat for my #FavouritePlant for #WildflowerHour but I’ve always wanted to see Wood Cow Wheat (Melampyrum nemorosum, or M. polonicum if treated as separate) and was lucky enough to finally see it growing in 🇪🇪 this summer, so beautiful. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
For the #WildflowerHour #GentianFamily challenge, here’s Marsh Gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe which was putting on a great display near Beaulieu in the #NewForest yesterday @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
August 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
For the #WildflowerHour #GentianFamily challenge, here’s Marsh Gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe which was putting on a great display near Beaulieu in the #NewForest yesterday @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Ruspolia hypocrateriformis #Acanthaceae on gneissic rock outcrops at the Shai Hills Resource Reserve, Ghana, an important site for biodiversity so close to Accra. Visited during the 23rd #AETFAT Congress @aetfat2025.bsky.social
August 10, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Ruspolia hypocrateriformis #Acanthaceae on gneissic rock outcrops at the Shai Hills Resource Reserve, Ghana, an important site for biodiversity so close to Accra. Visited during the 23rd #AETFAT Congress @aetfat2025.bsky.social
Just back from a wonderful week at the 23rd #AETFAT Congress in Accra, meeting so many passionate botanists working on the African flora and its conservation. Huge thanks to Prof Ameka and the @aetfat2025.bsky.social team for such a great event. Next up it’s Côte d’Ivoire 2028!
August 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Just back from a wonderful week at the 23rd #AETFAT Congress in Accra, meeting so many passionate botanists working on the African flora and its conservation. Huge thanks to Prof Ameka and the @aetfat2025.bsky.social team for such a great event. Next up it’s Côte d’Ivoire 2028!
For #WildflowerHour, a few nice species from #StainesMoor today: Bur Chervil, Bulbous Buttercup, Marsh Marigold, Knotted Hedge Parsley, Pepperwort species, probably Field, and Celery-leaved Buttercup. There were also 5 spp of #speedwell but I forgot to photo any of them! @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
May 11, 2025 at 7:24 PM
For #WildflowerHour, a few nice species from #StainesMoor today: Bur Chervil, Bulbous Buttercup, Marsh Marigold, Knotted Hedge Parsley, Pepperwort species, probably Field, and Celery-leaved Buttercup. There were also 5 spp of #speedwell but I forgot to photo any of them! @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
A cool and blustery morning on #StainesMoor - 3 Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo and this very obliging Hobby the highlights. Plus Roe Deer and Fox. Not much plant-wise, the cattle grazing is quite extensive
May 5, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A cool and blustery morning on #StainesMoor - 3 Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo and this very obliging Hobby the highlights. Plus Roe Deer and Fox. Not much plant-wise, the cattle grazing is quite extensive
Plenty in flower at Ivinghoe Beacon in the Chilterns today - here some yellow offerings: Horseshoe Vetch, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Kidney Vetch and Field Pansy #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
May 4, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Plenty in flower at Ivinghoe Beacon in the Chilterns today - here some yellow offerings: Horseshoe Vetch, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Kidney Vetch and Field Pansy #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
For #wildflowerhour, Common Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale) near Ivinghoe Beacon, not really a #HighUpPlant but about as high as the Chilterns get! I’ve never seen this species as abundant as in one small area of the hillside here. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
May 4, 2025 at 7:15 PM
For #wildflowerhour, Common Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale) near Ivinghoe Beacon, not really a #HighUpPlant but about as high as the Chilterns get! I’ve never seen this species as abundant as in one small area of the hillside here. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
⚠️📢 African botanists and conservationists 📢 ⚠️- the 23rd #AETFAT African Plants Congress takes place on 3-8 August 2025 in Accra, Ghana. Abstract submission is extended until 1st May. This is an unmissable event if you’re interested in the African flora!! aetfat.ug.edu.gh
@aetfat2025.bsky.social
@aetfat2025.bsky.social
April 18, 2025 at 12:35 PM
⚠️📢 African botanists and conservationists 📢 ⚠️- the 23rd #AETFAT African Plants Congress takes place on 3-8 August 2025 in Accra, Ghana. Abstract submission is extended until 1st May. This is an unmissable event if you’re interested in the African flora!! aetfat.ug.edu.gh
@aetfat2025.bsky.social
@aetfat2025.bsky.social
📢 We have a new study out in Taxon, exploring phylogenetic relationships in the tribe Barlerieae of #Acanthaceae using RADseq data, laying the groundwork for a revised classification of this fascinating group of ca. 500 tropical species. Led by Robert Comito. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
April 18, 2025 at 10:28 AM
📢 We have a new study out in Taxon, exploring phylogenetic relationships in the tribe Barlerieae of #Acanthaceae using RADseq data, laying the groundwork for a revised classification of this fascinating group of ca. 500 tropical species. Led by Robert Comito. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
I didn’t have much success with the #woodlandplants challenge this week, but here’s a nice flowering Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) from the Chilterns chalk #wildflowerhour
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
April 6, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I didn’t have much success with the #woodlandplants challenge this week, but here’s a nice flowering Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) from the Chilterns chalk #wildflowerhour
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) was in full flower today in the Chilterns - this is an introduced population for BBOWT’s species recovery programme. #wildflowerhour
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
April 6, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) was in full flower today in the Chilterns - this is an introduced population for BBOWT’s species recovery programme. #wildflowerhour
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Loddon Lily / Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) along the Thames near Goring today for #wildflowerhour
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
April 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Loddon Lily / Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) along the Thames near Goring today for #wildflowerhour
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridatcylites) and Common Whitlowgrass (Draba verna) at Hounslow Railway Station, west London last week - a very late entry for #wildflowerhour ! @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
March 31, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridatcylites) and Common Whitlowgrass (Draba verna) at Hounslow Railway Station, west London last week - a very late entry for #wildflowerhour ! @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
We’re really keen to get going with Important Plant Areas in #Ghana, it was great to meet James visiting Kew from the Forestry Research Institute #FORIG and to hear his enthusiasm for getting started on #TIPAs @rbgkew.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 6:17 PM
We’re really keen to get going with Important Plant Areas in #Ghana, it was great to meet James visiting Kew from the Forestry Research Institute #FORIG and to hear his enthusiasm for getting started on #TIPAs @rbgkew.bsky.social
Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) plentiful at the foot of Box Hill today, a little late for #wildflowerhour. Also saw 30+ Hawfinch at Juniper Top, a modest count compared to the impressive numbers being seen at nearby Mickleham.
February 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) plentiful at the foot of Box Hill today, a little late for #wildflowerhour. Also saw 30+ Hawfinch at Juniper Top, a modest count compared to the impressive numbers being seen at nearby Mickleham.
Winter gull flock on the sea front at Reykjavík on a snowy morning - mainly Iceland Gull but 5 species in all including quite a few Glaucous. A small flock of Eider in the background too.
January 25, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Winter gull flock on the sea front at Reykjavík on a snowy morning - mainly Iceland Gull but 5 species in all including quite a few Glaucous. A small flock of Eider in the background too.
Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum #Ericaceae) is abundant on the lava flows of Iceland, such as hardy plant and the red tones in winter look great against the snow
January 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum #Ericaceae) is abundant on the lava flows of Iceland, such as hardy plant and the red tones in winter look great against the snow
Aurora borealis in Iceland, 4th January, magical!
January 25, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Aurora borealis in Iceland, 4th January, magical!
#KewBulletin isn’t on here yet sadly, but they’re still doing nice posts on Twitter/X
January 23, 2025 at 10:25 PM
#KewBulletin isn’t on here yet sadly, but they’re still doing nice posts on Twitter/X
Just published in Kew Bulletin - a new species and a new combination in Stenandriopsis #Acanthaceae from the biodiversity hotspot of #Madagascar - link.springer.com/article/10.1... (Open Access)
January 6, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Just published in Kew Bulletin - a new species and a new combination in Stenandriopsis #Acanthaceae from the biodiversity hotspot of #Madagascar - link.springer.com/article/10.1... (Open Access)
A lovely specimen and plant, here’s a photo from Namibia (taken by Erin Manzitto-Tripp, Univ. Colorado)
December 11, 2024 at 9:40 AM
A lovely specimen and plant, here’s a photo from Namibia (taken by Erin Manzitto-Tripp, Univ. Colorado)
I was surprised to see flowering cowslips (Primula veris) on a small roadside verge in Birmingham this weekend on my way to Villa Park in the driving wind and rain (hence the terrible photo!) #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
December 8, 2024 at 8:22 PM
I was surprised to see flowering cowslips (Primula veris) on a small roadside verge in Birmingham this weekend on my way to Villa Park in the driving wind and rain (hence the terrible photo!) #WildflowerHour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Flowering in the POW conservatory recently at #KewGardens, Barleria oenotheroides #Acanthaceae a naturally occurring Amphi-Atlantic species, fairly common in the forests of W Africa and C & northern S America - unique amongst subg. Barleria in having bright yellow flowers.
December 2, 2024 at 8:38 AM
Flowering in the POW conservatory recently at #KewGardens, Barleria oenotheroides #Acanthaceae a naturally occurring Amphi-Atlantic species, fairly common in the forests of W Africa and C & northern S America - unique amongst subg. Barleria in having bright yellow flowers.